Monday Morning Cubs Show
A show every Monday morning about the Chicago Cubs from Carl and Mahoney.
Monday Morning Cubs Show
Why The 2026 Cubs Are Built To Win 95 Games + SPECIAL GUEST JAKE
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The North Side turns 150 with a roster built for a modern pennant race, and we’re fired up to explain why. So much that we're joined by our close friend and very special guest JAKE.
We dig into the national buzz that slots the Dodgers first, then make the case for Chicago at No. 2 because of something flashier teams can’t fake: true depth. From an elite infield to a rotation that changes shapes night to night, this group stacks series wins, handles cold starts, and shortens losing streaks before they begin.
We spotlight the pitching identity that travels. Edward Cabrera’s bowling-ball sinker, Cade Horton’s dog-in-the-arena tempo, and the anchor presence of Justin Steele create a mix that’s tough to game-plan for over a weekend—let alone a playoff series. Steele’s return isn’t just about health; it’s about headspace. The family reset, the fierce want for wins, and the Lester-like expectation to dominate the sixth and beyond give this staff its soul. We also talk lineup resilience and why Seiya Suzuki’s right-handed thunder makes him the toughest loss to absorb.
Then it’s anticipation season. We size up a brutal, cold-heavy April that could forge an early edge, call for more national broadcasts against strong AL opponents, and explore the league’s marquee contrast: star-chasing Mets vs cohesion-first Cubs. Along the way, we celebrate the 150th anniversary with a push for tasteful on-field nods, revisit Jake Arrieta’s all-time Wild Card masterpiece, and debate which 2015 Cub would best lift this roster right now—Dexter Fowler’s top-of-order presence makes a compelling case.
If you’re ready for a season built on layered pitching, smart depth, and a city-wide buzz that feels earned, hit play. Subscribe, drop a quick 5-star review on Apple and Spotify, and share this episode with the Cubs fan who’s already counting down to Steele’s first start back.
Thanks for tuning in!
- Carl & Mahoney
And we're clear. Good morning, good afternoon, and evening, Chicago Cubs fans. Welcome back to the Monday Morning Cubs Show. Today is Monday, January 26th, and we have a special treat for you guys. Mahoney, we are joined by our closest mutual friend and the biggest Cubs fan I know, a good guy named Jake. Jake, welcome to the show.
SPEAKER_00Guys, big fans of the show. Thrilled to be here. I'm excited for the discussion we're going to have today. Let's get into it.
SPEAKER_03So, and I, Jake, you know, one of my best friends, great to see on this Sunday recording for Monday morning and the Monday morning maniacs. But I do want to just let you know while we're going to lead into this, we're just going to be heavy baller strike from the sounds of it based off of what Carl had sent alluding to. So, welcome to the Monday Morning Cubs Show. Guys, Jake is one of the not only biggest Cubs fans, but biggest baseball guys. And he kind of kind of taught me the ways in our early 20s. We lived at Komahui's together. He's the one who connected me and Carl. If you've heard the stories before, if not, maybe we'll get into that towards the end of the episode. But no, Tui, welcome. It's been a long time coming, and I am just so, so happy to have you here on board.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, man. I uh I've been a big fan of you guys for a long time. I'm glad that we connected these two dots. Ooh, how long ago? 10, 12 years ago? 15. So look what's happened since then.
SPEAKER_0315 plus, perhaps. Yeah, a lot has happened. The Cubs have won a World Series. You know, that we've had a lot of ins and outs with you know, maybe an ownership change when me and you had first started, you know, you know, chucking it up about the cubbies. But no, welcome aboard, guys. It's gonna be a fun episode. I'm really looking forward to it, Carl. It's gonna be.
SPEAKER_01Our close connection here, and just to round this out for folks, um, you know, like Jake and I played a little ball, you know, a couple years ago, not too long ago. You know, we uh uh uh a real good competitor. And then um, yeah, I don't know how I'm tying this one out. You guys are fucking buddies through somebody else. It's a it's a real interesting uh triangle of friendship that the three of us had. Let's put it on display. Before we do, though, gotta thank Thirsty Vaquero, you know, and there's another guy you can just drop right in here if you wanted to, the man behind Thirsty Vaquero. It's a Mexican-style soda with a signature spicy finish. That's all bite, no rattle, guys. Three bold flavors. We got three bold personalities on the Monday morning cub show for you today. I'm a watermelon jalapeno guy. I know Mahoney traditionally is a mango muerte. And when I look at Tui, it's I just see a lime and I see a chili pepper. Uh, when I just see it, that's what I see. A lime and a chili pepper. It's thirsty but carrow. You guys get it on Amazon. When I say it's so good, you've never had anything like it. You won't believe me until you try it. And if you like the Monday morning cub show, you want to support our content in 2026. One of the easiest ways to do that is to get yourself a four-pack, a 12-pack, throw it in the fridge. You're going to be coming back for more. Obviously, Mahoney, you've had a bunch of thirsty backaro in your life. I thought I saw I see you putting one down right before the show started to get your vocal cords warmed up.
SPEAKER_03You did. I like the spiciness to wake them up. And at the same token, Carl, you could probably see some of the boxes that I've left on display behind me. I know that we're in audio only, but just for the listeners at home. Um, the artwork alone sometimes is beautiful just to hang in your garage, just putting that out there if you want to hang out a box or two.
Are The Cubs Really No. 2?
SPEAKER_01But Thirsty Vaquero, it's an experience in a can. Go get yourself some. I'll bite no rattle, my friends. Mexican style soda, signature spicy fucking finish. And I'm watching the Upwards Lizard King. Appreciate you keeping me on a pitch count here. Uh, but that's Thirsty Vacaro, folks. Without it, there is no Monday morning cub show. Go support them, go get him on Amazon. It's spelled exactly how it sounds, Thirsty Bacero. Okay, first topic here. Boys, I don't know where Mahoney found this, but we were talking pre-show. You know, what what are the big picture items in Mahoney's? Like, you won't, you guys won't believe it. The Chicago Cubs are power ranked second in Major League Baseball. Now I don't really know the source. So, baller strike, Jake. Do you trust the source Mahoney sent in the pre-chat text message? Baller strike.
SPEAKER_00Bleacher report. I think it's a little questionable. I think that there's no reason the Cubs shouldn't be in the top three, five, but I think the article that you sent shows that it's it's the Dodgers and everybody else, the Dodgers in the field. So um, I think the expectation should be the Cubs in the NLCS playing the Dodgers. That's what I'm going into the season expecting. I think we all should be expecting that. So, two, it's not that far off from you. You got one of the best infields in baseball, you got a much deeper staff. Jed's always real good with the bullpen in and in season and off-season. So why not? Fuck it.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, I just a quick follow-up, Carl. I like seeing the number two. It could have been some of that Bregman bump. You know, it was right around the time maybe that the folks were, you know, getting their numbers together and really trying to figure out who was two, three, and four. But yeah, everything Jake said and then some, and I just like it for the juice going into the season, you know, the way too early preseason ranking sort of thing. Give me uh give me that number two spot. And, you know, obviously the Dodgers are going to be number one and so on. But yeah, it kind of just gets me a little bit more itchy for that spring training to get around here.
NL Picture: Dodgers, Mets, Cubs
SPEAKER_01I think that the Cubs are better than any team in the American League on paper to start the season. The pitching depth, the infield, like I obviously I'm a huge homer, but I've said at Beats a Club this past week, I like them at 96, 97 wins, and that's like with that sustaining an injury. Uh, I really do like them. One kind of thing, let's take it a step further. If it is Dodgers won, clearly, obviously, I think a greater storyline that throughout the 26 season is going to be this the Cubs versus the Mets, because they're two completely different style rosters where the Mets have gone out and just added superstars, Bobichet, Freddie Peralta, Luis Robert, you know, and then in and around letting Pete Alonzo walk, but also getting rid of Jeff McNeil. Francisco Lindore is the shortstop, shortstop. Like that's just such a solid superstar, you know, team, but like they haven't really played together yet, where the Cubs are way less in superstar power, but I think they're way more of a team and just will end up being a you know a more interesting team to follow. I don't know. But I do I do like the Cubs versus the Mets storyline in 26. Uh, Jake, do you think that's a a good nugget to follow, or what do you think of the Mets?
SPEAKER_00I mean, I love is that not like the the dream for the networks and for advertisers? It's LA, Chicago, and New York. Oh my god. The top three three teams in baseball, if not just the uh the NL. But yeah, I mean, a disappointing team last year. I think the Cubs probably were a little bit ahead of schedule, but there's a lot of talent on both of these rosters, and they're that those are some matchups that we'd love to see come uh September and October.
SPEAKER_01Ball or strike, you will be disappointed if the Cubs finish outside the top four uh in Major League Baseball, as far as records are concerned.
SPEAKER_00Oh, absolute heater right down the fucking middle.
SPEAKER_01That's a strike. You're disappointed. Mahoney, you don't get that pissed off.
SPEAKER_03No, I don't. I kind of take it as it is sometimes, you know, goods with the bads, bads with the goods, but Tui's kind of built a little bit differently than me when it comes to that type of stuff.
SPEAKER_01Let's stay on this for a second with the predictions. So, like um Cubs 88.5 from Vegas. I have it piping hot strike over 92 and a half, over 92, over 93. Stop me 94. Stop me, 95. Strike. Stop me 96, 96, 95.
SPEAKER_0096 a little heavy.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. The crazy thing is their pitching depth.
Win Projections And Depth Debate
SPEAKER_00That's the that's the reason why they should it shouldn't be that hard to get 92, 93 wins. What did you say? One major injury we're we're willing and one capable of sustaining.
SPEAKER_01And that means anybody on the roster. Right. Anybody. Like, because even if I hate to say it, even if Dansby gets hurt, like, is the offense better if then like you know, Nico goes over and plays short stop? Nico can play short and that short stop. Yeah, like we have guys that can play that position. Yeah, not as well as Dansby, but no, we can take a huge injury. I think like the probably the biggest injury to the team would be Saya Suzuki, I think, because he's the hardest to replace, right-handed thunder. Like, he can slug 520 from the right side. We don't have that anywhere close, I don't think. Yeah, I'd agree with that. And then pitching-wise, like we could lose easily, you know, Cabrera. Do we have a dog? Is that a dog?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, Bebop's barking a little bit. I'm in the garage, guys. That's why I got my hat coat gloves on right now, you know, breathing some of that air.
SPEAKER_01Well, just people in the audience have dogs, and then they might be thinking, like, is that actually, you know, is that Cooper barking? Is that Riley? What's a good dog's name? Murphy, Winston. I don't know, everybody's got a Winston. Mix. Um, 96 wins. 96 is too many. That's what I got.
Who’s Irreplaceable? Suzuki Talk
Rotation Mix And Steele Timeline
SPEAKER_00I don't think I'm betting over 96 wins, but I I could see the Cubs winning easily 96 games. Easily might be a little confident. Give me your Eddie Cabrera breakdown. I mean, you got a heater that that drops a foot and a half and it gets 100 miles an hour. Um I heard somebody saying that that he's likely to be like a number four on a great rotation. I mean, he's got number one, number two upside stuff. So I like how they have a little bit of balance in between the different types of pitchers that they have on the staff. You have a Cabrera that's got just that super hard sinker. Horton is just a dog. And then in between there, you got Boyd, you got Shodah, Jamison. There's just a lot of different types of arms, and in a three, four game series, you're gonna see a lot of different angles. So I really like just the diversity of talent on the staff. Um, and then what they can throw at him from the bullpen. Not to mention Justin Steele.
SPEAKER_01I was gonna say Justin Steele injury. That's Mahoney's number one play number one pick the click in 26.
SPEAKER_03Absolutely. And I'm hearing everything I'm reading ahead of schedule, at least. Those have been the you know, crickets on the wall. But with that said, once Steele comes back, then imagine the flexibility beyond. You know, we've been talking quite a bit, Carl, about the six-man rotation potential, and this is the designed, you know, lineup to do it.
SPEAKER_00I like that the Cubs don't have any reason to rush Justin Steele back. Done. Let him get as clean and cleared as possible, get a little warmth at Wrigley Field. You don't want him pitching in the cold. Let him get ready to go, come in June, early June, maybe even early July. Let him ramp up so that he's hitting his stride when we get to playoff time.
Steele’s Mindset, Family, And Return Buzz
SPEAKER_01This is an insight-driven Cubs podcast. Maniacs, if you get a chance, drop five stars, you know, Spotify, Apple, wherever you find it, we would appreciate the review. And an insight that I would like to offer towards Justin Steele, not about the game, folks, not about the pitch script, not about the injury recovery time. Let me tell you the biggest benefit that we got from Justin Steele from being out last year. I'm being dead serious. He bought a big piece of property on the Gulf. I believe in Biloxi, Mississippi, somewhere Gulfside, Mississippi. And because he was out with the last year, he was able to spend time with the kids fishing off the pier, building up the dock, doing all that shit in Mississippi, which I think if you talk to big leaguers, like the amount of time they spend away from their family and just how much it like rips apart. I know you guys got young kids walking around the house, et cetera. I like the fact that Justin Steele didn't just get a chance to reset, you know, physically and all this stuff in the time since having the Tommy John, like the full emotional rebound we're gonna get from a guy who's got to reinvest his time with his kids and his family and then come back with like this real strong wind behind his back. I'm not joking when I say like we're gonna get the best side version, mental version of Justin Steele that's ever existed. And that's crazy to say because, like, quite art, like arguably, the greatest strength Justin Steele has as a starting pitcher is what's in between his ears. The motherfucker competes his balls off, just like fearlessly pitching inside. So I just like love all of this is him just coming together even more as a man.
SPEAKER_00But can't you just think of the anticipation for his first start when he's coming back? Like, there's gonna be little drops, he's gonna hit he's gonna do a couple rehab starts in double A, he'll go up to AAA, and then I don't know if they bring him back at Wrigley, but his first start back at Wrigley, the anticipation for that. Hopefully, with the Cubs that have a nice lead in the division, maybe we do this against a division rival. Bring him back, the place will be electric, and then it's just gonna you know spark and spark another level for this team. I can't believe that.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, it Jake, I think too, he feeds off of that type of energy. He's that you know type of ball player, gets people fired up, he'll yell at dudes in the dugout, you know, a few years ago back. We saw that example. And back to Carl's point, I very much think Steele is that dude that needs to feed his soul with his type of stuff. He needs to be going setting out crab traps in the morning before the sun comes up, you know, and then you know, showing his kid how to cast a good line. He ver from everything I've seen, read, and you know, you know, him and himself put out there, I think that that's something that's gonna just be beyond beneficial once he got takes that mountain again.
SPEAKER_00But he's had his time to do that, and he's a dog, and he's a ball player, and he wants to get back, baby.
SPEAKER_01Just take it one step further, though. I think we're gonna, you know, we have this list here. We're gonna talk Jake Ariad at the end of the show. Uh, and particularly to head offered this up. But I want to say Jake's great run started around the time Cooper was born. Started around the time the family was really coming together. You know, I think I think Britney gave birth and he I think he literally just started mowing fuckers down. Like his stats post Brittany giving birth to Cooper, I believe, is I think it's a I think it's crazy disparity, like Hall of Fame level disparity, you know. Um, and are we tapping into that? Setting the crab traps. Want to touch on something Mahoney said specifically about Justin Seele. This is the word we need to use. This is the 2026 word of the Chicago Cup soul. Soul. Justin Steele's soul is not just a ball player, it's a man, is a person. It's beautiful, it's competitive. He is our guy. Like baller strike, Justin Steele's our guy in the rotation by far, right? Strike. Like Cade Horton will become that, and Cade Horton has it. But Justin Steele, I think, is a step further from the competitive fire.
SPEAKER_00And then Kate Horton hasn't even had Steele on the staff with him.
SPEAKER_01They haven't been able to get it. Imagine those two. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Two alphas.
SPEAKER_01We like that.
SPEAKER_02I mean, I absolutely all just kind of like took a breath and said the same thing. That's great.
SPEAKER_01Hey, I don't go to the city very as much as I obviously historically, right? Um I'm outside the city. I'm I'm located outside the city enough to say I don't go in the city that often. All right. The lat not the last time, but I don't know, is like when was it, Mahoney? In September. I was I was downtown, I was doing something, and then I went into Trivoli Tavern to like just grab a beer and a snack or something with Mrs. Carl, and like, of course, who am I sitting next to? Justin Steele. Like, walk in right away. I'm like, what the fuck are you doing here? He was rehabbing, but he had come back at the end of the season while the team was winding down going into playoffs. And so you want to talk a little serendipity here. I mean, Travoli Tavern, a tough spot to get a seat at the bar. Period. End of story. Don't care who you are, who how well connected you are. Uh, B, it was nice to see him. He had been in Mississippi all season long since he had gotten hurt. And so, just in that brief little, you get a little chance to have an exchange. How you doing? You know, you could tell. I thought this was really interesting. I go, how much does it suck? You know, you see the teams obviously competitive. You've pitched on some fucking shit teams compared to this. And he was laughing. He goes, just imagine how many wins I'd have by now. Now, isn't that interesting? In a time when people say wins don't matter, it's a stupid statistic. I've always argued as long as the players care about it, it's an important statistic. They're a la proof. Justin Steele in the flesh telling me, just imagine how many wins I'd have. Not my ERA plus, not my FIP X Whip. Fuck yourself, Lizard King, notch me. Uh just I thought that was interesting, boys.
SPEAKER_03So he was also my 1000th follower on Twitter. He messaged me on the side and said, I saw it turn. So that's a little quick Monday morning Mahoney tidbit on Justin Steele.
Commemorative 150 Patch And Merch
SPEAKER_00We're big fans. Yeah. I mean, he he he's like he's like our our modern day John Lester. I mean, like John Lester went out there every day and he wanted to throw seven innings. He wanted to throw a complete game, you know, because he wanted to get wins. He didn't give a shit about anything else. Nothing else. He went out to get wins. And that's what Justin Steele wants.
SPEAKER_01And that's why I'm willing to at least entertain the argument. We don't need to do a whole segment on this. But if it matters to the player, then I'm willing to say it mat because if they're motivated by that's gonna make them want to be out there in the sixth. If it's gonna motivate them in a pre-pitch routine, if it's gonna enter their thoughts as they're you know seeking out that double play ball in the sixth inning of like, I gotta get through the sixth, I gotta get the I'm I gotta get us through the whatever it is. I gotta finish as I'm I have to give the offense another chance. Like, if the pitcher has that self-talk, then that's all I need to know to say, yeah, the win matters because they're it's influencing their behavior. Certainly much more than like spin rate is, I think, for a lot of starting pitchers. Or now here's an influencer though, velocity. That's probably the number one influencer going on in major league baseball now. Guys getting out of the mountain seeing how they just want to see the radar gun. Pussies.
SPEAKER_00Well, that I mean, like, that's how they're being brought up now. It's being brought up to just let it all fly for four or five innings. You're gonna get two times through the lineup, and and that's all we're asking from you. So, and because they do that, they don't start at 80%. They don't just like lead with their fastball, throw fastball, change up for the first couple innings. They're going throwing the kitchen sink at guys from pitch one. I mean, how many times have you seen a breaking ball first pitch of the game? I can't imagine that happening like 10 years ago.
SPEAKER_01I you see it, no, you'll see it more in one season now. You'll see it more in 2025 than you did in the 20 years between 2000 and 2020.
SPEAKER_00100%. But since he's he was brought up with the in the same era where it was, you know, we're gonna ask you to get two times through the lineup. But to that, most of the time, that's not gonna qualify you for a win. That guy wants to go out there at some bitch and want to win.
SPEAKER_01Wants it. Some bitch wants it. That's all we gotta say about it. He does. Uh okay, let's stay on history here for a second. I think this is a nice touch. I don't know where you guys stand, just start here generally. Doesn't matter what team bulls, bears, cubs, blackhawks. Ball or strike. I love a commemorative patch. That's a strike.
SPEAKER_00Strike strike, strike, absolutely, commemoration. Especially these days. Now you got patches all over the place. You know, sponsored patches and all that. No, a nice, classy patch, commemorative patch, 150 years. That's something to put a patch on your jersey for. No question.
SPEAKER_01Because I don't remember the 125th year. I think you do 100, 150, 200 is the next big one.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, and the only other thing I can think of is like one, I'm definitely buying the hat. I'm getting the new era hat with the patch on the side. And like the only, like, besides the World Series hat was, you know, I'm talking fitted Cubs hat with the patch. They had a Wrigley, like Wrigley Field 100 year celebration of the Cubs playing at Wrigley, and I love that. So, just for me from a merch perspective, I love the fact that I have the ability. To buy a new Cubs hat this year that's going to be distinguishing itself from the others.
SPEAKER_00Well, the marketing's working.
SPEAKER_01Yay. I'm their guy. Believe me. Go to a Cubs game with Mahoney. You can't walk past a merch store without him wandering his like a mosquito into a light. One time I got him in line, he's holding up a hat. He's like, hey, is$150 too much for this hat? I'm like, Oh, yeah, Moni, it's too much for a commemorative hat. He's like, Thank God you're with me. I would have unloaded in here.
SPEAKER_03I can't I came close because I definitely would have. And I think that we'd went in there to warm up because at the time that was where their heating zones were, was in the merch store.
SPEAKER_00Remember we walk in, they go, It's like walking out of a out of a ride at Disney World, right through the right through the gift shop. Yeah, totally.
SPEAKER_03Uh shit. Warm up where you can just spend as much of your dough as possible.
Cubs History: Pride And Reckoning
SPEAKER_01Hey, on subject of these of these rackets at Wrigley Field, this is something that got brought to light uh last year. My buddy was taking his kids to the game for the first time, his daughter, and he he gets her a jersey, and the jersey's like$79.99, like kids' jersey. And you buy the jersey and they're like, Do you want us to put a number on it on the back? You know, do you want us to customize this for a player? And he's like, Yeah, sure. I mean, whatever. We'll do PCA. I'd like, can I get number four? You know, and so they do the PCA stamping or whatever. They like you know, steam the number on it. Price goes from$79.99 to$240. Oh my god. Well, absurd.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I mean, that's a question you gotta ask before you make that purchase.
SPEAKER_01You're right. You're you're absolutely right.
SPEAKER_00But I think I mean Are we talking about Crow-Armstrong all the way around, too?
SPEAKER_01See now that's now I gotta call him. Now I gotta ask him.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, and if this is ironed on, are these ironed on like patch like that looks like it's stitched, or is it just the like iron ones? Let me get the let me get the fucking warranty. There's a lot going on here for that that price direct.
SPEAKER_01You can still I think it was raised lettering. I think it was this, I think it was the steam seal on the going back to 150th commemorative thing. Okay, so this kind of snuck up on me. I hope we make a big deal about it. I hope there's 150 uh signage on the field grass, not opening day where they just get rid of it after the I want it permanent, year-round, little bit of a patch memorabilia thing somewhere, you know, where I can see it on the broadcast.
SPEAKER_00Can I ask you a question, Carl?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_00Where do you want that on the field?
SPEAKER_01So I'm I'm partial. We can double up equal spots on left down the left field, right field line, and between the dugout. You know, that could okay, so that's a little bit much. Or, or hear me out. What if, what if, and I think this is actually a really good idea, overload the on-deck circles or redo the on-deck circles to have the 150th commemorative on both on-deck circles, still give the because one of the nice things about the Cubs is when the away team comes, you get your own on-deck circle, like they'll bring out a Cardinal, they'll bring out a a national, I believe.
SPEAKER_03With the graphic on the in the on-deck circle itself. Okay, I'm following.
Yu Darvish Legacy: Chicago Grade
SPEAKER_01So I think if we can just retouch up our on-deck circles to incorporate 150th anniversary, that's fine. Or, I mean, if you want the most prime real estate, maybe home plate.
SPEAKER_00That's that is a classy, tasteful way to keep that on the field for the entire year with minimal maintenance since you only got to do it once. Yep. I can't wait for the 150. I think we all agree that's the way to do it.
SPEAKER_01And can we all agree if I if I could get my hands on anything, you know, Wrigley Field? Like, I don't want a seat, I don't want like a number from the scoreboard. Give me one of those on back circles. Give me an old Chicago Cub on back circle. That would be so badass.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, even like a pregame used one would be good enough for me.
SPEAKER_01I bet I'm game one. Have you ever taken BP at Wrigley? I have not. Okay, have you ever been on the field or like played catch or done anything like anything like that?
SPEAKER_00I have been on the field. I have not played catch. I have played at Comiskey, but not at Wrigley. Oh, that's sick. I I got hurt the one time that I was supposed to play there, so I was not able to play.
SPEAKER_01All right, not trying to bring up bad memories. Uh, I was on the field one time for pregame. I was part of the I was part of the flag team. I worked with this guy who had season tickets, and for one of like the benefits, he had it season tickets.
SPEAKER_03Pouring rain. Wasn't it raining?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I remember now. He had season tickets for like 40 years, and and he had like saved up all his points. You know, you get like these season ticket holder points, and I guess they carry over year to year. So he comes up to me, we're working together, we're sales guys downtown, real aggressive North Shore sales guy, just real aggressive. So he comes up to my desk, he's like, Hey, what are you doing? Uh, what are you doing Friday? You want to get fucking drunk and hold the flag at Wrigley? I was like, What? One of the giveaways was you get to be the guy who unrolls the American flag. So there were like 50. I said, Yeah, of course. There were like 50 of us. We assembled at Wrigley before the game, and then you have to go through the instructions, all the stuff. And I remember almost getting kicked out mid-anthem because I was live streaming it, and they guys they were like, Hey, that's disrespectful, put your phone down. And I was like, It's great content. Like, I don't know what to do here. I'm holding the flag on Wrigley Field, I'm not trying to be disrespectful, and you know, yeah, I dare you to kick me out mid-anthem. And you're on stream, buddy. Yeah, you guys are videotaping this too. Yeah. So I've been on the field. That was nice. I think that's my point.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, not I mean, I was at yeah, on the field for a fish concert at Wrigley, Zach Brown band. I think we were on the field night, but I I know that that's not what you guys were were getting at there.
National TV Games And Why They Matter
SPEAKER_01I did a Lumineers concert at Wrigley quickly, done a lot of great concerts at Wrigley. I I went in, I've never had a a sharper fall-off of going in and liking a band and hating a band after a show. And they put on a nice show. It was a nice show. The problem is all I've never hated a crowd. I was just surrounded by Miami of Ohio grads and quarter zips. But and they were in groups of dozens, dozen, two dozen, three dozen, you know, party bus everywhere. That was a tough day.
SPEAKER_00Gotta be sure. I'm shocked that that rattled you.
SPEAKER_01I was I was pissed. Let's stay on 150th anniversary quickly. The last big anniversary I can remember is the 100th anniversary 2008. Cubs go 97, 64, special season with Lou Pinella, back-to-back playoff appearances. I think they won the division going away in in 2008. Were you guys didn't you guys live down the street?
SPEAKER_00I did live down the street. Grayson Seminary. I probably went to 25 games that year. I was at the clinching game when they beat the Cardinals. A devastating knockout of the playoffs, but that whole summer was one of the one of my all-time summers.
SPEAKER_03Jake, correct me if I'm wrong, but was that not the year that we went to an alliine day? I tagged along, I'm not an alum. We went to an alliine eye day, and that was when Lou Pinella went nuts and started kicking his hat around, and then the Cubs went on a little bit of a tear. Could have been the year before or not, but either way. Let's call it the day.
SPEAKER_00That was the day.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, that was a great day.
SPEAKER_00It's not like Lou. Lou didn't discriminate when he was kicking his hat around. So it could have been in just about any time. He was a good manager. He was.
SPEAKER_03One last memory about that day. We were in, I think it was John Barleycorn at the time, and we were young enough to do this sort of dumb thing where open bar was ending, and we started collecting. Each person was going up, getting a couple beers at a time, and we had an entire table filled with beers right at the bell, and we didn't go anywhere for at least another hour and a half. So that worked out great memory, great day.
SPEAKER_00That's the best practice for an open bar.
SPEAKER_03And great season. I'll never forget the 2008.
SPEAKER_01Mahoney, did you drink a lot?
SPEAKER_03At the time, yes. I think that a lot of those beers were getting polished off by old business here.
SPEAKER_01Okay, I'm staying on 150.
SPEAKER_03It wasn't the only one, believe me.
Chas McCormick Vibes And Clubhouse Fit
SPEAKER_01I'm just staying on 150 here for a second. If you guys get a chance, this isn't just for you guys. I'm saying for the maniacs in general. I've thoroughly enjoyed going back and learning about like the Cubs history and starting and how they were the Cubs and what kind of turned them into this like powerhouse and the start of the 20th century, 150th anniversary. It's a good opportunity to go back, do some homework, do some history on your own. You know, and if it's as simple as starting on the baseball reference page and looking, there's some great players from this era, and it's a great piece of Chicago Cubs history. And I say this era, I mean a long fucking time ago. Like you go back then, that's fun. Now, I wish Cap Anson wasn't just like a complete piece of shit who went out of his way to prevent African Americans from playing in Major League Baseball and would like openly protest if there was even like a rumor of a black guy on the other team. So, like, obviously, fuck that guy, you know, for being like a stain on baseball history. And uh it kind of takes away the fact that like, you know, he's got some insane club records and you know was like the great greatest Cubs player, you know, of all time. But I'm just using the 150th anniversary to encourage maniacs. Like, don't be a pussy. It's okay. You can read the Wikipedia page, you can go on baseball reference and just educate yourself a little bit. There's some good stories out there. Done.
SPEAKER_03End rant. Yeah, it's a nice time, it's nice time to look back every once in a while and and see where we all came from. I mean, you know, I'm not talking lineage here, I'm talking sports lineage. So it's good to know.
SPEAKER_01You Darvish is retiring. Ball or strike, he was a good cub.
SPEAKER_03I'd say it's like ball just outside. He didn't line up with when other dudes were clicking, and when he did, it was when our offense was falling off. Um I liked the guy. You know, I don't know if he he'd be considered like a good cub because I don't really know if we did a ton of winning with him.
SPEAKER_00I think he kind of nailed it there. I think you're you're a ball just off the plate. There were no moments that he provided I mean, he probably took a couple no-hitters into the sixth or seventh, but nothing memorable in the playoffs or there was nothing about his tenure in Chicago that was all that memorable. Quality starting pitcher, had a real nice career, but as a cub, I don't know, he didn't really do it for him for anybody. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03And apologies, too. Like if there was like a good you moment that I'm missing, it clearly wasn't emphatic enough for me to care. Or was that?
SPEAKER_02I just don't think the team was good enough that time.
April Schedule And Cold-Weather Concerns
SPEAKER_01So that I have two moments I remember that's just more like I guess categories of memories. And the first is we needed you Darvish in 2017. He was trash. We signed him, he's a big free agent. He was getting 21, 22 million dollars a year. And the biggest weakness of that team, and that got exposed against the Dodgers in the NLCS, was just the lack of power pitching that could go and shut that lineup down and get 10 strikeouts. Like Jake had started at the end, he would he had pitched well in the NLCS and he was still racking up strikeouts. Uh Lester was not effective towards down the stretch. I don't think Kyle Hendricks was particularly effective down the stretch. You really needed someone to step up, and you Darvish was terrible in 2017. So that's like the negative thing I remember is when we lost in 2017, I was like, damn, it would have been awesome if we could have the Udarvish that we signed. Now, the bright side is though, we did get that U Darvish. I thought it was in 2021 at the trade deadline, or was it in 2020? Was it he was good in 2020 and then we traded him? Yeah, and then we traded him in the offseason in the winner. And that was we were kind of like, oh shit, we're gonna surrender. Casey was part of that. And it was Jed's first move after Theo had resigned, I believe.
SPEAKER_00So they got Owen Casey. So maybe we come back and do a little retro at the end of this year. Owen Casey turns into Edward Cabrera. Edward Cabrera goes out there and has a dominant season Cubs win the World Series on the 150th anniversary, and then we say thank you to you, Darvish.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it's a strike then. That's our good memory. Needless to say, I think it's real classy move from you, Darvish, to surrender 43 million dollars the final three years of his career. He just doesn't feel like he's up for it.
SPEAKER_03So yeah, doesn't feel like it's his, so you guys go ahead and keep that coin.
SPEAKER_01Hey, baller strike Cubs on National Broadcast. That matters to you.
SPEAKER_03Strike, strike to me, Carl. I don't know if that quest was to Jake, so apologies if I'm jumping the gun here. Always like to be a little cordial to guests. However, I think it's a strike just because one, I like to see a different graphic package. I like to have, you know, NBC. We're gonna be on a couple NBC games. I like to hear the music, you know, different vibes. I like my eyes searching for where the scorebug is every once in a while. You know, you're gonna have plenty of what you know on marquee. And then now we're gonna get a little taste on uh ESPN via through ABC as well as um some NBC games this year, which I think are gonna be fun. And probably maybe one of the I don't know if Apple's doing baseball or not this year, but either way, that's why I like it.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, absolutely a strike. I mean, what it means to me is that you're relevant. I mean, you're gonna get a Cubs Cardinals ESPN Monday night baseball game every year just because it's the Cubs and Cardinals. But if both of those teams are trash, it's not a great showcase for the entire country to watch that. So the more we're on national TV, the more we matter. That's all it means to me.
Arrieta’s Wild Card Legend And Mount Rushmore
SPEAKER_01I hope the national broadcast, I have this as a strike right down the middle, by the way. I I hope the national broadcast games are against American League teams predominantly. You know, the Mets will be nice to see them play in the Dodgers, although I kind of feel like I like my home field advantage with those broadcasts that are marquee, even though it has absolutely no influence at all over the final score, but like whatever. Home field advantage, get those babies on marquee. Gimme Boog fucking slapdick in his way through nine innings of lazy broadcasting. But when we go national, when we go national, like gimme Mariners, you know, gimme tigers. Like that was that Friday night game against the Tigers was scooboal pitching. I know it was on Apple TV and that sucked, but the fact that I just remember that, like, boom, off the top of my head. That's so Chris so clean. Give me the when we play the Red Sox or the Yankees, like those are the games I want to see on the national broadcast. And and Mahoney, great points. The scorebug graphic, like, there's just nothing better than getting that little change of pace from the standard traditional marquee network.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, keeps you on your toes, keeps that brain active. It's like uh you know, one of those front brain games.
SPEAKER_00Stay in on not to derail this though. I mean, do they flex those games? Like, is there uh do they have the uh the ability to flex those games in? Like a nice Cubs Mets showdown middle, late is late in the season could be nice. I'm not sure they're playing them until after June.
SPEAKER_01Those are all flex, baby. Yeah. Um, look that up when they do play the Mets. In the meantime, I have a question for Mahoney, because Mahoney brought this up before the show started. He's very excited that the Cubs signed Houston Astros legend, Chaz McCormick, to a minor league deal. Did you get that?
SPEAKER_03I did get that. Chas McCormick signed to a minor league contract with an invite to spring training. Now, you guys are gonna have to tell me a little bit about his baseball acumen and such, but from everything that I've looked into and heard about this gentleman and seen him play over the years, he's he's kind of just got that that dirtbag from Philly feel, you know, like I don't know, little Charlie from Always Sunny. I don't know, bro. You see, the thing is, and I that just I want that guy in the clubhouse, and we need some of those that pizzazz off the bench, you know, later on in the year.
SPEAKER_01Toughness. Like it's the type of guy who had a great high school football career. We don't have those guys, like even Pete Crow Armstrong, mediocre, lukewarm high school football career. You go down the list, like Nico Horner, productive, was not a great high school football player. Dansby Swanson didn't play because he was nervous of getting hurt. Same thing with Alex Bregman. Ian Hap was on the golf course. When I'm talking about getting the clubhouse together, you need a guy who can catch a punt in the wind. And like Chaz McCormick is that guy. I'm not even bullshitting you. Like to bring the group of guys together, you need a good high school football player in the room. To me, that's Chaz McCormick. Tui, by the way, I found out the Mets do come to Wrigley Field, I believe the third week of the season.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, that's not exactly what I was looking for. I was looking for a late game or late season game, but we can flex in April if that's the uh that's the only option we've got.
SPEAKER_01If we want to bitch, I'll say this. I believe the Cubs away from Chas McCormick for a second. I believe 32 of our first 38 games are north of the Mason Dixon line.
SPEAKER_00That's bonehead scheduling right there. That's all that is. Plain and simple.
SPEAKER_01So you know, last year they started, I believe, obviously in Japan, but also some games against the Dodgers. I believe we had some games West Coast, we had some games against the Diamondbacks. Like that was smart. I thought we had some domed games. This is crazy the amount of home games we're playing. So baller strike, we don't we don't like that strike. Strike.
SPEAKER_03Strike, yeah. I only like it when it's cold, so you could take in the sights at Wrigley a little bit easier, but not for the boys on the field whatsoever.
SPEAKER_01Baller strike. Baller strike Chaz McCormick is signed back with the Cubs to play with Alex Bregman. Is that a sign?
SPEAKER_03That was is that that was what he said to a chance to play with Brad. Oh, strike, I guess. Yeah, it sounds like a good sign. I'll take it.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I'll take it, sure. Um performance hasn't been great the last two years. I do love a scumbag Philly guy. I love Philly. I have a respect for Philly, not giving a shit what anybody thinks of them. And that is the kind of guy, whether you're talking about him catching punts in the wind, sure. But I I need a good locker room guy who just keeps things light. And usually you keep guys around like that, like Justin Turner last year. You telling me that like we were keeping him around because his play on the field? Absolutely not. No, it's because he was showing his own. You need a guy that can keep it light, especially in the bullpen where you're spending hours and hours out there every day.
SPEAKER_01I had said that we should get like I what we should get a guy that can bring us together, right-handed outfielder, veteran. And the nice thing about a Philly scumbag is he'll flip a table, he'll start an argument with you just because you said something like blue Gatorade's better than orange Gatorade. Like he'll get in your face about that. Like, the fuck do you mean orange Gatorade's worse? Look, are you out of your like just a real psycho willing at the drop of a hat to just let the uh the mouth foam a little bit? And I know that I've been that, I've lived that life. And and and and you know, you can bring a clubhouse together. You can break it up a little bit too, I suppose, but you could bring it together. You know, nice to have a wild card in there. Speaking of wildcard, 2015 wild card performance, probably the greatest performance, pitching performance in the history of the Chicago Cubs, and Jake Arrietta against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Tui brought this up because John Greenberg from The Athletic wrote an article or had tweeted something out about how his his Mount Rushmore of electric athletes in Chicago sports history was Patrick Kane, Derek Rose, Devin Hester. Did he say Caleb Williams?
SPEAKER_00Caleb.
SPEAKER_01Am I miss who else am I missing from this list? Javi Baez. Javi Baez. And so the question is does just Jake belong on the does a pitcher belong on this list? Baller strike, Jake Arrietta should be on the Mount Rushmore of most electric Chicago athletes of the last 25 years.
Which 2015 Cub Would You Add?
SPEAKER_00Strike. Here's my thing with I to me, this kind of feels like a U Darvish answer. Like ball just off the plate. However, Jake Arietta in 2015 was absolutely appointment television. He's not out there every day. Javi had some, I mean, unbelievably memorable moments in his career. And I don't think you can argue much with the other guys, but Jake in 15 was out of control. And when he went out there against the Pirates in the wildcard game, he was going the whole game no matter what. What did he throw? Like 126 pitches. Give him a lead. Once they got a lead on Garrett Cole, it was like this game's over. And that was what he made you feel like in 2015.
SPEAKER_01So he told, now I'm not gonna, you know, I name drop it. I don't know if you guys know this. We worked together. No, never heard that one before. Here we go again. Just joking. He told me that he went the wild card game. I had to go back and look this up because I for you just forget. Like I remember Schwarber's home run. I remember him running it down their throats before the game, and then obviously during the game. And then we went on that like soft liner to the second baseman to Starling Castro made the final out. But I forgot, I had to go back and look this up. And he had explained to me. He's like, they know they're fucked, they're cooked, they're not touching me at all. They drilled him in the fourth or fifth inning or something to try and get him to charge the mound because the only way they were gonna beat him was to get him like kicked out of the game. So they had been talking all this shit to him in like more than they were. Like it was obviously the fans are talking shit, but it was just a way more contentious environment than he was like, This is fucked up. They drill him to try and get him to like charge them out and like him out, like you know, get them all snapped and wiry. He's like, fuck these losers, goes down to first base, steals second base first pitch.
SPEAKER_02That's great.
SPEAKER_01Is he's like, they're gonna get me. I'll guarantee they don't think I'm stealing because he in his head it was like if they drill me, I'm stealing second first pitch. Like that's how I'm gonna get back at these guys. And then he ended up scoring on a base hit.
SPEAKER_00I don't remember that. That's I do remember what's his name, Sean Rodriguez having uh being like out of control that game. So he's right. They had won that game before it even started, and he really only got in trouble one time. What do you have? Like bases loaded, one out, rolled a double play, got out of the inning, and after that it was over.
SPEAKER_01Some people some people in major league baseball would say there's a little bit too much, a little bit too much by vans, a little bit too much Adderall in the dugouts, a little bit too many. Some some people would argue that Major League dugouts are a little bit wired to blow. You know what I mean? Like those guys are all walking around just fucking laser focused. I think more than maybe people realize. There's a lot of guys just we just say locked in, just locked in. Um, if there was a player from the 2015 team that you could put on this team right now to improve this team, 2015. Don't give me 2016, Chris Bryant. You can only have Chris Bryant as a rookie if you're gonna say Chris Bryant. They're locked in their state that they were in 2015. Is it a reckless hobby bias? Is it who is it? I think I gotta take Anthony Rizzo. Michael Bush is pretty good, buddy.
SPEAKER_00Pretty good. But I love that Anthony Rizzo bat. Guy didn't strike out. He played first gold glove defense.
SPEAKER_01It's a marginal upgrade from Michael Bush. Michael Bush is just ranked 16th.
SPEAKER_00Well, are you saying they have a top 100 15 performance? Yeah, you take Arietta.
SPEAKER_01Well, I mean, all right, obviously. I mean, were you leading him on that? Oh, no. Maybe we take it, Jake off consideration then. Don't, don't. This is I feel dirty talking about him this much. What what about somebody else? Somebody not hit named him. Remember, Lester wasn't that Lester, I believe, had a 3.5 ERA his first year.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, he had a rough start. He picked it up at the end. I would never say no to John Lester.
SPEAKER_01Is it a coglin?
SPEAKER_00Is it a fourth out four? Definitely not a coglin.
SPEAKER_01Oh, what about Dex? Yeah, what about Dexter Fowler? Because then we could put, we could have a four. He's leading off for you.
SPEAKER_00He's like you could slot him in leading off. DH, you know.
SPEAKER_01I think I'm going Dexter Fowler and having him play right field so that stay can DH with Moises Biosteros, and then we have four outfielders.
SPEAKER_00That's a that's a hell of a defense right there.
Spring Additions, Schedule Outlook, Sign-Off
SPEAKER_03Let's go through the time machine, make it happen.
SPEAKER_01This is the Monday morning cub show. If you guys get a chance, obviously five stars would be greatly appreciated. You know, I'm not gonna get on my hands and knees. I'm not gonna blow Mahoney for it, but if you guys get a chance, five stars. Schwarber? Oof. Schwarber right now. Yeah, I watched not that I like do this frequently, but I was watching 2016 highlights uh this morning, and I like forgot about Kyle Schwarber being on that team. And they showed Kyle Schwarber with his shitty Middleton, Ohio goatee. Yeah, oh gross, disgusting, picking Cheetos out of it, and we let that guy go. We didn't tender him a contract.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, that was bizarre. There was a couple of those. They were not trying to win at all. Let uh Contreras walk, let Schwarber walk for nothing when you could have got at least like an A-ball prospect that could have turned into something because there was no winning happening in the postseason or even getting to the postseason in those years. That was that was a little bizarre.
SPEAKER_01Not even not even signing Schwarber and trading him. Yeah, right. That's insane. What what do you guys have anything else? I feel like we're at a good we're at a good point in the offseason show. I'm looking forward to spring training. It's gonna be here in no time. Pitchers and catchers report in a couple weeks. You know, I would say generally speaking, though, like if the Cubs just started spring training tomorrow without any other additions, I'm fine with it. But there's rumors we'll get a starting pitcher any anywhere where your guys' head's at.
SPEAKER_03Only hearing and like mutterings if Zach Gallon could still be on the table. But other than that, you know, my finger isn't quite on the pulse because I can't feel any of them right now. I'm freezing my ass off in the garage.
SPEAKER_00I don't know. I was just trying to take a look at what do we got for a what do we what do we got for a schedule coming out of the gates?
SPEAKER_01If people could see, I didn't realize till now Mahoney's in his full winter jacket and there's steam coming off his breath. He's been recording like this the whole time.
SPEAKER_03I can't see it could trick the power real quick.
SPEAKER_00What do we think about the the April schedule? You guys see this?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it's trash, dude. We better have it off.
SPEAKER_00We we guardians rays pirates Phillies Mets Phillies Dodgers Padres.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, our we only play three warm games uh in the first four weeks of the season. And that's I'm just talking about difficulty at Tampa. Oh, difficulty's fine because last year we had a lot of people.
SPEAKER_00But this is you come out and make a statement and you end up a couple games over 500 in this month. That's a hell of a month.
SPEAKER_01Do we agree we'd rather play the better teams in April? I think that's the best time. I think so.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, for sure.
SPEAKER_01Coming out of spring training is the absolute best time, especially at the world baseball classic this year. You know, show Hey Otani could be a little whatever, what have you, Freddie, Mookie, fuck Kyle Tucker. But no, I hey, I I'm not worried about the schedule. The nice thing too is that when you get to, I think our second half schedule is supposed to be absolute cupcake city, and it is, my friends. I mean, that the second half, our September couldn't be it's just the amount of times we played. What is this? Miami six times, thank goodness, at Cincinnati. And we are loaded with Milwaukee Brewer games in the second half down the stretch.
SPEAKER_03Love that, and we'll definitely sharpen our pencils and have a full schedule breakdown, you know, leading up to the spring training and maybe a little bit closer to the season. But um, yeah, dude, Jake, this has been a pleasure having you aboard the Monday morning cub show tonight.
SPEAKER_00Guys, it was a blast joining you. I've uh as I said, I'm a big fan, and uh it's just an honor to be included in uh an off-season show. So thank you for having me.
SPEAKER_01Well, consider what maybe maybe you can join us for our schedule breakdown. We'll do that the Monday before March Madness starts. That'll be our schedule season preview with Jake. Um, guys, if you get a chance, five stars, check out Thirsty Vicero, five star review Spotify, five star Apple. Helps us with sponsors, helps us grow the show. Until next time, a very important message to Maniacs. Thank you guys very much for empowering the show. We will be back next Monday. Um, and until then, go follow Mahoney. Love you. We gotta get better at that show.